sets 1 of 2

Definition of setsnext
present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

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as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
The store is owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community on their tribal land and licensed under their cannabis ordinance, which sets rules and regulations consistent with Minnesota laws, according the tribe. Frankie McLister, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 There are a few high-end hotels that offer access to the national park but what sets Silverback Lodge apart is the view. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026 The no-dig smocked high waist and cropped wide-leg silhouette are already a win for all-day wear, but what really sets them apart is the range of color options that transition seamlessly from spring to summer. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026 What sets it apart from typical STEM competitions is what happens after the pitching. Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026 The incentives package sets a minimum project cost of $500 million and stadiums must have a seating capacity of more than 30,000. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 This mission sets the stage for the first human moon landing since the Apollo era. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 Sunlight sets the trap, pushing the structure into a tense, high-energy position. Chelsea Haney april 10, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026 Excluding industry from the room doesn’t make for ‘independent’ policy but sets the table for ignorant policy. Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Transform everyday meals into flavorful creations with Gustus Vitae seasoning sets. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026 Upgrade your outdoor space with a spacious sectional, adjustable lounge chairs, and durable dining sets for alfresco meals. Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 Heuermann admits to an 8th killing The discovery of numerous sets of human remains along Long Island’s South Shore beginning in late 2010 set off a search for a potential serial killer that drew global interest. Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026 Others including Skrillex, Odesza, Rüfüs du Sol and Billie Eilish are among the superstars who have popped in for surprise sets, cementing the stage’s legacy within Coachella’s lore. Niyaz Pirani, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 One former Pixar employee who worked on Be Fri and asked to remain anonymous tells The Hollywood Reporter that the project went through four iterations after various sets of notes from higher-ups and would have been ready for the animation stage when Disney opted to pull the plug. Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026 In 2019, the two unidentified sets of remains were determined to belong to Cook, a mechanic who disappeared in 1985 before her body was found in 1986, and Donna Prudhomme, 34, a young mother who vanished in 1989. CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 The Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 sets reporting timelines that include reporting cyber incidents within 72 hours and ransomware payments within 24 hours after payment. William Akoto, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • The energy of the collision spawns many new particles, including—sometimes—W bosons.
    Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026
  • But reading the profile of Mohamad Eisa and Yolka Gessen left me with a kind of dread, the kind that comes when a spin-off from a hit show spawns a spin-off of its own, promising/threatening hundreds of new hours of content to keep up with.
    Jessa Crispin, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Every Tuesday of tournament week, the defending champion chooses the menu for his fellow champions, and the lore of the occasion continues to grow.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Alliances, however, do not mean states have to engage in warfare just because an ally chooses to do so.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But those who want the league to abandon the challenge system and go full ABS should heed the words of Baltimore Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt, who values the skill of the umpires.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The 37-year-old guard faces an uphill battle to return from an ACL tear, but the front office values her veteran presence.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This site, at Tala'at Ad-Dam, sits along an ancient pilgrimage route to Jerusalem, one Jesus' parents were said to have walked.
    Seth Doane, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Hiking, mountain biking, and trail rides are options for all ages at this property that sits within the Rincon Mountains and adjacent to Saguaro National Park and Coronado National Forest.
    Julie Bielenberg, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Amazon aims to have the best membership service in the world, and live sports have become a big part of it.
    Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Hatfield said the cooperative aims to lease back its headquarters site, one of the smaller buildings on the campus, from any buyer.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • What Santa Clara County decides in the coming months will not stay within our borders.
    Maria Noel Fernandez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Set in New Jersey, the story follows an ethnically and religiously confusing family fronted by hardware store owner Linda (Laurie Metcalf), who decides after the death of her mother to run for mayor of their midsized town.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The sale, which was conducted over a period of several days to reduce market disruption, secures valuable funding for the project without jeopardizing price stability.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Until Biondi secures excavation permission and produces results that survive peer review, the theory remains just that — a theory.
    Ryan Brennan April 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As is the case in other states, Utah not only puts parents in charge of this complex bookkeeping but also appoints them as their children’s trustees—and all in the name of protecting children’s earnings from greedy parents.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The victory evens the Rangers’ record at 5-5, which puts them a half-game behind the Astros in the AL West.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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